20thStDad

This thread is one of those that every time it pops up in new posts, I get really excited. So can we implement some rule (which I am violating right now) that you can't post anything to this thread unless there is some actual change or new information? Who isn't on the edge of their seat just waiting for this to become a reality!!??

Swamplot posted some new renderings.

That chick on the bike in the first picture is totally perpendicular to the path! She's gonna go straight onto Yale St and get mowed down! It'll never work. Walmart must be evil to submit such drawings.

See for yourself...

http://www.houstonar...re-target-info/

Everyone was positively giddy over the Target opening. They even praised the repaving of Sawyer Street. No complaints about traffic on a 2 lane road in front of a store virtually the same size as the proposed Walmart. No worries about the mom and pop stores being hurt by a big box retailer. No concerns for the character of the Heights, nor worries of school zones just blocks away. I defy you to read that thread without coming away with the belief that the Walmart opposition is hypocritical, vapid, elitist snobbery.

One thing I find funny is that Target was on the same level as K-mart when I was growing up. In the past 10 years they do some marketing and store face lifts, and they go from K-mart to Whole Foods status in the eyes of yuppies. Target+Costco = good, Sams+Wal-mart = bad is just one of those perception things that plays out extremely predictably with the not-poor folk in this city.

Since most of what I'm reading on here are opinions, here's mine. I dont want a Walmart here. Do I think it will attract poor people? Not really. Criminals? Maybe, but nothing I'd fret over. My convertible was broken into in the new Kroger parking lot last weekend in broad daylight and I'll still shop there. Traffic? Sure, but I live in the Woodland Heights and Target hasn't resulted in traffic jams down my street.

I just plain don't want one. I moved to the Heights 4 years ago, from the Dunvale area. Yes, THAT Dunvale. The one everyone uses as the antiWalmart model. Its a good model too, that place was a mess. Do I think this will become another Dunvale? Lol, not really. But the truth is none of us know exactly what this Walmart will do to the neighborhood. Its all speculation. But I moved into the Heights and fell in love with the area in part because places like Walmart didnt exist, and now 4 years later, have some hefty financial investments in the neighborhood. So from a monetary perspective, I want to protect my investments and I don't speculate Walmart will help with that.

I left the suburbs to get away from that culture, and although I'm not one of those folks that will be showing up at every event picketing the Walmartian Gods, I will have my piece and let Walmart know as a resident I will not support their business. And its not just Walmart either. I could care less about their ethics, its more the big box constant concrete mentality. I don't think a Hobby Lobby is a good use of that space either.

I think given the strong antiWalmart sentiment being expressed here and on the web, I really don't fear for our little mom and pops in the neighborhood. The Heights has a neighborhood loyalty I have not experienced anywhere else, and I think that loyalty will more than ensure the continued profitability of our little shops. My money will still go to C+D, I will still shop on 19th, and I will still ensure that much of my disposable income stays in the neighborhood. Walmart needs to know that. And I think that's where the power of the thousands of anti Walmart people can and will make a difference.

Best anti-Walmart post yet. All honesty, and no made-up numbers or other BS to hide personal hangups.

I think some people are confusing "walkable" in the urban sense with just plain not far away. You can walk anywhere within a 3 mile radius if you really want to. But nothing in this city outside of downtown is truly set up as walkable. A "walkable" area is one where most people walk to get from A to B, not where the few who don't mind the heat do it sometimes.

I hope the sporting goods department will be open 24 hours. Seems every time I buy a fishing license it's between the hours of 10pm and 5am.

Have they already proposed any in-store refreshments? The usual Starbucks or McDonalds? Personally I think Chacho's would be more appropriate. What's better than roaming a Wal-Mart with a half-gallon happy hour margarita?

I think she would be boycotting the developer.

Obviously, but only indirectly. If you are mad at your boss, punching your coworker doesn't really accomplish anything.

I posted prior that it is my personal choice and that boycotts are valid. Please don't lecture me about boycotts-I have seen a major boycott work firsthand, my parents marched with Cesar Chavez in California. And before everyone starts with the flippant stereotyping - my parents were not hippies or ultra liberals. My father was a Rocket Scientist....oh but he did always wear a pocket protector to work and wore ties with short sleeved shirts

Tell me about this major boycott. Were innocent parties not directly involved with the issue at question also boycotted?

It's not illogical to boycott stores and developments. Boycotts have been organized & worked throughout history....Grapes, sugar,salt. This is my individual choice - not crazed fan mentality.

Boycotting a store you like to try to hurt one you don't does not make any sense and will in no way help to achieve the result that you are looking for. I know what an effective boycott is, and in this case only your boycott of Wal-Mart itself makes sense. Otherwise by extension you may as well just boycott the entire city, that'll show 'em.

I think the point is that the developers are nuts if they think they are going to get "local boutiques and chef driven restaurants" in a strip mall anchored by Walmart. Just imagine the phone call:

Developer: Hi, Monica Pope? How are you? I heard you might be interested in opening another restaurant in the Heights area?

MP: Sure, what is the development like? Who is the anchor?

Developer: Oh the development will be very nice. Landscaping, green buildings, etc.

MP: So there isn't an anchor?

Developer: No, there is. It's Walmart. But it is a new urban concept with lots of browns!

MP: (click)

This whole "boutique/chef driven restaurant" talk is nothing more than PR to try to fool people into thinking that this development will be a benefit for the Heights. This development will fill up with the usual junk that follows Walmart around.

Yes that was my original point about 10 posts ago. I agree with that, they have no control over who will fill the spots. I'm just amused that it somehow went from that to "I'm not going to shop at a place I love to shop at because it's next to Wal-Mart." That illogical on the level of what some crazy sports fans do sometimes.

...don't think so - it will be the kiss of death for any local business to be there if the proposed Wal-Mart is built there. Wal-Mart cooties are hard to wash off and anyone that shops there probably feels like taking a shower afterward. I love Spec's -but if the proposed Wal-Mart is built and Spec's opens a store there - I will not patronize any of their stores.

Yes that makes total sense. Because a store/restaurant is close to a Wal-Mart, people will avoid it (and out of principle of all things, not because of traffic or crowds). You may now descend from hyperbole.

It looks like there is a daycare facility in the West End Multi-Service center on the east side of Heights Blvd (Is that place even still open?) so Spec's might be a little gun-shy about the "prohibited distance" crap that sunk their other location.

That doesn't make any sense to me. Us parents need liquor more than anyone, they should sell it on site at child care places! If it's on the west side of Yale I bet that covers the 1000 ft rule (or is it 2000...).

Ah, there you go. A liquor store. The perfect (locally-owned) compliment to a Wal-Mart. I'd definitely be willing to panhandle in front of that!

"Liquor store" makes it sound so sin-ny. I prefer "Liquid happiness depot", or "help-me-forget-the-fascist-ordinance-being-shoved-up-my-arse-juice store".

Someone who uses Facebook should really start a page about building a Spec's in this development. I hear that's the best way to get what you want these days.

Yeah, maybe one of those things they were talking about. Is there already a La Michoacana Meat Market nearby? That'd be a sort of locally-owned parasite to the Wal-Mart.

Shepherd at 14th, is that close enough?

I'm still pulling for an indoor rock gym and a Spec's, since they closed the other one.

Article regarding the walmart on swamplot.

http://swamplot.com/...-20/#more-21106

The project’s leasing broker tells Bivins he wants “chef-driven restaurants, local boutiques and non-chain outlets” to occupy the new retail spaces on Yale and Heights Blvd., which he views as an extension to recent developments along Washington Ave.

Can they really pick and choose like that? I wouldn't think so, so let's just expect a verizon store, mattress store, check cashing place, and some crappy asian chain restaurant.

How to properly address your Walmart Mailers

If you live in the immediate area of the proposed site (as I do), you may have received a brochure from Walmart telling you about the project. Do NOT send the mailer back to them. We believe they will use any returned mailer as a ‘vote’ for support for the effort irrespective of what is written on it.

Instead, we would like you to do to write ‘NO’ all over the mailer in easily legible writing and re-Address the mailer to the Mayor’s Office:

Mayor Annise D. Parker

City of Houston

P.O. Box 1562

Houston, Tx 77251

Do NOT send your mailers back to Walmart as they will count them as a positive response and twist your opinion of the project.!

If you really think that "vote" either way matters on the mailer...ok, whatever. That's just marketing. If people mail it in, whether positive or negative, it will only serve to make them feel better about themselves. The wheels are in motion, ain't no stoppin it now.

Just got a multipage flyer in the mail from "Friends of Walmart" with a link to more info at http://walmarthouston.com/ Does anyone know what areas outside of Heights proper are receiving these? I'm in Shady Acres so it seems pretty smart on their part to garner support from other neighborhoods. And here in Shady Acres, I have yet to see those blue signs from http://stopheightswalmart.org/

"Friends of Walmart" - awesome. Sounds very cult-ish. I hope I don't have to be their friend to buy cheap crap there.

And you are nuts if you think Wal-Mart is going to negotiate with anyone. They have already put a contract on the land and will not give up a single sq ft unless they have no choice. Wal-Mart won't even tell anyone how many sq ft the store will be.

And you are nuts if you think Walmart won't try to build a store that is more appealing to the surrounding residents.

Oh please. I live in a bungalow that cost less than 300k and I have a say yes sign in my yard. The real elitism is coming from the builders/realtors/architects that want to destroy what is left of Houston's historic homes just for a quick buck. They think that if you have enough money, you should not have to be subject to any democratic process. That is elitism.

I don't see where anything democratic is being proposed. I'm not getting a vote, and someone else will make decisions for me once this is imposed.

Sarnoff reported that Blue Fish will be opening a location on 5820 Washington say that looks to be our spot.

I like that place a lot.

My link

My favorite sushi place - happy to hear there will be one a bit closer!

Forget about the Buffalo Bayou Master Plan, now we've got the Houston Bayou Greenway Initiative, a Master plan of Master plans, sort of speak:

http://www.chron.com...an/7114095.html

http://www.houstonpa..._initiative.php

Estimated Cost: $500 Million

Miles of new or upgraded hike-and-bike trails: 250 miles

The gleam in Ed Wulfe's eyes: Priceless!

Hell yeah! Best use of government $ ever. I hope I see it completed in my lifetime.

Peter Brown did that site plan pro-bono for the 22 superneighborhood leaders. He is trying to find middle ground between the opposition and the developers by proposing a site plan that would make everyone happy. Peter Brown's plan is not the plan that Wal-Mart and Ainbinder are proposing. In fact, no one has seen what Wal-Mart and Ainbinder are proposing. The site plan leaked to the Chronicle was just a preliminary design that Ainbinder prepared. In fact, Ainbinder's planning firm (Marsh Darcy) took down the signs for the replat request. So, it looks like Ainbinder and Wal-Mart were changing the property dimensions up to the last dimensions before Wal-Mart bought the land. No one, beyond Ainbinder and Wal-Mart, know what the development will look like.

Wal-Mart is talking a lot of talk about making the Yale location some new urban concept Wal-Mart, but won't give anyone any details. The only thing they have said for certain is that they are not going to put in a gas station or a tire/lube service center. They made the same promise for the Silber location. Not sure about 45 and Crosstimbers.

This location really isn't very "urban", or at least what I think of urban as being. It's only semi-dense and centrally located, near a large neighborhood and an interstate. Show me what Wal-Mart would propose to put on the magnificent mile in Chicago, that would be much more urban.

I'm not even an Astros fan, but seeing Oswalt and Berkman go is a pretty sad day. I guess Carlos Lee is now free to just get fatter and stop trying. Who else is left? At least it seems to have lit a fire under Wandy's arse, he's been on the last 2 starts.

Just saw a Houston-specific Walmart commercial. Makin' the sale!

I was at the game with the Cubs the other night and I swear that there were more Chicago fans in the stands than Houston fans. The place erupted with cheers and clapping when the Cubs hit a home run.

I seems to me that the Astros did not even play baseball this year.

The Astros fan base is really, really pathetic. But I can't really blame them, there is barely any history of success and the front office is typically a joke. It's like a manager death sentence to get a job here.

Nundini on Shepherd sells awesome muffaletta bread and their muffaletta sandwich (about $7) is pretty good. I liked Carter and Cooleys muffaletta but you have to ignore the employee who tells you to put jalapenos on it. He's an LSU grad who has been in Texas too long!

(I'm also from BR)

My wife brought me one from Nundini for lunch today, it was really good. It's a bit less stacked than I would want, and I like my olive salad a little more tangy, but it will definitely do as a local option when the craving comes along.